Sunday, March 13, 2011

A homage to Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam Azad,formerly President of Inia as flashed on the f.b. on March 9,2011.

Bishwa Nath Singh

How many of us recollect as who was known as the People's President!Certainly, many would remember him fondly that he was none else than Dr.Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam in short Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam Azad who remained as the President of India from July 25, 2002 to July 24, 2007.

Dr.Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam in short Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam Azad is an Indian Scientist of repute besides being a Politician and Statesman who had played the most leading role in the development of our country’s missile and ...nuclear weapons Program. He was duly elected as the Eleventh President of India during the tenure of the National Democratic Alliance coalition government, under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During his term as President of India , he was popularly called the People's President who remained into that high office from July 25, 2002 to July 24, 2007.He was honored by the country’s highest civilian award “ Bharat Ratna’ in 1997.He had a humble beginning and an unparalleled career as an Aerospace and Defence Scientist, leading the nation with a vision of "Developed India." He as an eminent Aeronautical Engineer, contributed for the development of India’s first Satellite launch vehicle SLV III, became the architect of Indian Guided Missile development programme, led to the successful Nuclear experiments and envisioned a road map for realising "Developed India" within twenty years. He had graduated in Physics from the St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli, and later on studied aeronautical engineering and graduated with a diploma in Aeronautical Engineering in the mid-1950s from the Madras Institute of Technology which was a premier Institute in the field of technical education in Southern India . After passing out as a graduate aeronautical engineer, Abdul Kalam joined the Directorate of Technical Development and Production of the Ministry of Defense. He later joined the Indian Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) as a Rocket Engineer, which during the later half of 1962 had decided to set up the Equatorial Rocket Launching Station at Thumba. He became a member of team led by Prof. Vikram Sarabai which aimed at organising an integrated national space program for the manufacture of rockets and launch vehicles indigenously. Dr. Abdul Kalam was chosen to lead a team for the design & development of Satellite Launch Vehicle, SLV III which was successfully launched on July 18, 1980, injecting Rohini satellite into low earth orbit. He later became Director of ISRO Launch Vehicles/Systems and contributed for the evolution of launch vehicle configurations. He was appointed Director of the Defense Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad in 1982. As Director, DRDL, he was the Chief of integrated Guided Missile Development Program and led to successful completion of Prithvi and Agni missiles. He was appointed as the Scientific Advisor to the Defense Minister, Secretary to Department of Defense Research and Development and Director General of Defense Research and Development Organisation in 1992. Many new technology projects towards building self-reliance in defence and also spin-off to society emerged during this period. Later he became the Principal Scientific Advisior to the Government of India in the rank of Cabinet Minister and served in this capacity from November 1999 till November 2001. He was primarily responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for generation of innovations in technology development for multiple applications through Government departments, academic institutions and industries as partners. He was also the Chairman, Ex-officio of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C). He had a firm belief that Technology can be used as a tool for national development. In December 2001 he moved over to Anna University as Professor of Technology & Societal Transformation. He had honor to be awarded Padma Bhushan in 1981, Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and Bharat Ratna in 1997.He was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc. Honoris-causa) by twenty eight universities. He is the recipient of several awards including the National Design Award. Dr. Biren Roy Space Award; Prof. Y Nayudamma Memorial Gold Medal (1996) : GM Modi Award for Science (1996) : R K Firodia Award for Excellence in S&T (1996) : Veer Savarkar Award (1998) : and Indira Gandhi Award for National integration (1997).He is a Fellow of many professional societies including Aeronautical Society of India : Astronautical Society ; Indian National Academy of Engineering ; Indian Academy of Sciences and Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers. He is also a successful connoisseur of classical Carnatic music. He plays Veena in his leisure time for amusement. He writes poetry in Tamil, his mother tongue. Seventeen of his poems were translated into English and published in 1994 as a book entitled "My Journey". He is also the Author of three books in English – "India 2020 : A vision for the New Millennium", "Wings of Fire : an Autobiography" and "Ignited Minds – unleashing the power within India.” He is widely known for his simplicity and as a versatile author .He is genius with full of passion and wisdom. His life is an open book.He is a bachelor full devoted for national cause and development. He is carving the Nalanda University with utmost sincerity to see that it regains old heritage with modernity. After his tenure as the President he is now a visiting professor at J.S.S. University, Mysore where he has agreed to deliver a minimum of four lectures every year. His love for education is widely known. Let us pay our humble obeisance to the lotus feet of this great Scientist cum Statesman and pay our rich tribute to his towering personality and wish him long life!